Toronto Raptors 109, Orlando Magic 93
Scottie Barnes can carry the load.
He could by no means be essentially the most refined offensive participant, however his two-way impression units him aside. Few gamers within the league can dominate on each ends just like the Toronto All-Star. His skill to anchor the offense whereas going up towards the opposing workforce’s greatest participant defensively places him in elite firm as a real two-way pressure.
Generally it is clearly exhausting.
Slowing down Paolo Banchero, transferring the ball up the sector and combating inside isn’t any simple job. But Barnes does it at an distinctive stage. After a gradual begin on Tuesday, he regrouped and delivered an outstanding efficiency. He pulled down powerful rebounds, made good performs from the publish and shouldered the heaviest defensive obligations for Toronto.
“Congratulations to Scottie. He does it on each ends,” Bruce Brown stated. “Paulo is large. He can put on him out, however yeah, … you do not see that always within the NBA, your greatest participant going towards the perfect offensive participant.”
Barnes showcased his versatility. He picked Banchero’s pocket within the second quarter, closing out the sport together with his throwback dunk in transition. He later put away a Trevelin Queen layup within the third quarter because the Raptors tightened their grip on the sport.
Banchero nonetheless scored factors, ending with 26 factors in 32 minutes, however it wasn’t simple. Barnes always walled the 6-foot-10 ahead, forcing him into tough and contested leap pictures all through the night time. On the opposite facet, it was Barnes who stole the present, delivering a outstanding efficiency with 17 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists to steer the Raptors to victory.
“If you take a look at the job that Scottie Barnes places in each night time, it’s all about that, it’s about how can we assist the workforce win?” » stated Raptors coach Darko Rajaković. “Tonight it meant enjoying extra protection and specializing in Banchero, which is bodily draining, however he was our greatest matchup towards him and did an distinctive job with him.”
The match began badly for Toronto. The Raptors got here out flat, with the offense trying disorganized and ineffective whereas Orlando caught fireplace from deep. Toronto burned its first timeout lower than two minutes into the sport and referred to as one other simply eight minutes later when the Magic took a 21-point lead.
Determined for a spark, Toronto changed the whole beginning lineup, hoping the bench may present a lift.
It labored.
Bruce Brown obtained issues going after a wierd technical foul towards the Raptors. He made two three-pointers within the first quarter and added 10 factors earlier than the primary break. Kelly Olynyk delivered one in all her greatest performances of the season, and Toronto’s veterans offered the constant presence the workforce was on the lookout for. Brown completed the night time with 15 factors whereas Olynyk added 12 factors and a career-high 4 blocks in what was a +39 efficiency from the Canadian large man.
“Bruce introduced numerous vitality to the bench, notably [in the] first half, once we had been trailing, like he was capable of assist us get some essential stats,” Rajaković stated. “He simply gave us a bit of little bit of vitality there at first. And I assumed Kelly did a extremely good job all through the match. Large sport with rating. He had some verticality and blocked pictures within the circle.”
This speaks to the worth the Raptors place on their veteran gamers, even in a season centered on growth. Brown and Olynyk’s performances on Tuesday confirmed why this technique can repay. When the sport threatened to get out of hand early, the veterans stabilized the workforce and stored Toronto aggressive towards a powerful Magic workforce.
Gradey Dick gave the Raptors a nine-point lead within the third quarter with an enormous one-handed slam after an excessively aggressive closeout from Banchero. It capped a momentum-changing run for the Raptors who by no means let the Magic get again into the sport.
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– Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 22, 2025
Dick related on a pair of three-pointers, giving Toronto 17 factors in 28 minutes.
The Raptors will hit the highway to open a two-game sequence in Atlanta towards the Hawks beginning Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
